Organizations

Lester Prairie Business Association

Established in 1995, the Lester Prairie Business Association’s primary goal is to promote a strong business community in Lester Prairie. For more information or for the location of the next meeting, contact association President Troy Feltmann at (320) 485-2535 or troy@heraldjournal.com.

AA

Alcoholics Anonymous meets every Tuesday at 8 p.m. at city hall.

American Legion Auxiliary

The purpose of the American Legion Auxiliary is to serve our veterans, to safeguard and nurture our nation’s children, and to educate all citizens, young and old, about the benefits, privileges, and responsibilities ofAmerican citizenship. It was established in Lester Prairie in 1925.

Currently, about 20 members strong, the group meets the first Thursday of most months at the city hall at 7:30 p.m. Normal meeting months are March, April, May, September, October, November, and sometimes in August and December, if needed.

Membership dues are $20 per year. To be a member, you must be a wife, mother, sister, daughter, granddaughter, great-granddaughter, or grandmother of a member of the American Legion; a female veteran who served in any of the following conflicts (or the mother, wife, sister, daughter, granddaughter, great-granddaughter, or grandmother of a deceased veteran who served during any of these conflicts): Persian Gulf War, Panama, Grenada/Lebanon, Vietnam War, Korean War, World War II, World War I, or US Merchant Marines. Any questions about eligibility may be directed to the auxiliary president at the number listed below.

The Lester Prairie Bergen Busy Bees 4-H Club invites you to become involved in 4-H.

This family-oriented club seeks to help members develop good citizenship, character, confidence, and leadership skills through a variety of activities, as well as the individual exploration of project areas. These project areas are as diverse as the members themselves, and may include anything from aerospace, livestock, crafts and fine arts, wildlife, biology, photography, shooting sports, performing arts, gardening, dog, computer, food and nutrition, horse, bicycle, clothing and textiles, shop, and much more.

The monthly meetings are conducted by members, and take place the first Sunday of each month at the city hall. The whole family is encouraged to attend. Regular 4-H members range in age from kindergarten to those one year out of high school. There is also a Clover Buds phase of 4-H for children in kindergarten through grade two.

For more information, or to join the Bergen Busy Bees, call the McLeod County Extension Office at 800-587-0770.

Early Childhood Family Education

Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) is a program for all Minnesota families with children between the ages of birth and kindergarten.

It is the mission of ECFE to strengthen families and support the ability of all parents to provide the best possible environment for the healthy growth and development of children.

Established in 1992, the Lester Prairie ECFE conducts several events and classes for children and families throughout the school year.

They are served by the Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valley Council. Girls meet every two to four weeks at the discretion of the troop leader, and are welcome to join any time during the year by paying the $15 registration fee. Registration begins in September, with one or two kick-off events.

Annually, the Girl Scouts participate in a court of awards ceremony, cookie sale campaign, various service unit events, as well as other area and council events. Girl Scouts is open to all girls in grades kindergarten through 12.

Sponsored by Ray Kirkpatrick American Legion Post 463 and established in 1982, the Lester Prairie Legion baseball team is made up of boys ages 15-19 and competes against other area Legion teams.

There are no fees to participate, and expenses are met through fundraising events conducted throughout the year. The members are provided full uniforms and catcher’s equipment.

For more information, call Mark Detlefsen at (320) 395-2813.

Lester Prairie Ambassador Program

The Lester Prairie Ambassador Program was established in 2001, to give young women in the community an opportunity to learn leadership skills and represent their community.

Candidates for the LP Ambassadors Program must be under the age of 22, but at least a junior in high school.

For more information on the LP Ambassador Program, contact Joanie Bull at 320-395-4273.

Lester Prairie Area Cub Scouts

Kindergarten through fifth-grade boys in the Lester Prairie area can join Cub Scouts, an organization that encourages boys to grow into responsible adults with the ability to succeed in life, as well as teaching boys how to work together as a team.

The Scouts meet monthly at den meetings, which are small group meetings with planned activities including working on achievement badges. There are also once-a-month pack meetings for Scouts of all ages and their parents or guardians.

During the summer, the Scouts attend day camps and are active during the Prairie Days celebration in town. Other annual activities include Christmas wreath sales, the Blue and Gold banquet, and the Pinewood Derby. The Cub Scouts also recycle aluminum cans. Their can trailer is located near Casey’s on McLeod County Road 1.

For more information, contact Tracy Jackson at (320) 395-8303.

Lester Prairie Booster Club

The Lester Prairie Bulldog Booster Club has donated more than $100,000 to Lester Prairie athletics and fine arts through various fundraising activities, including an annual golf tournament.

Established in 1994, there are currently more than 90 family and business memberships. The group, whose purpose is to promote participation in athletics and fine arts in Lester Prairie Schools, meets monthly during the school year, and membership is open to anyone interested in joining. Dues are $20 per family, and $35 per business each year.

Items donated by the Bulldog Booster Club in the last few years include padded gym chairs, padding for the front of the stage, conference and state banners on the gym walls, school song banner, sponsoring of the geography bee and spelling bee, pep band T-shirts, NHS team building trip and shirts, Knowledge Bowl team shirts, equipment for high school and elementary sports programs, physical education equipment, sponsoring various high school classes for field trips, fine arts trips, spirit item giveaways, and sponsoring the homecoming parade each year.

For more information, contact Craig Jackson at (320) 395-8303, or the Lester Prairie High School office at (320) 395-2521.

Lester Prairie Education Foundation/McLeod County East Dollars for Scholars

Have you ever thought of giving back to the community? Lester Prairie Education Foundation/McLeod County East Dollars for Scholars is looking for people who are willing to put money toward a scholarship, start a new scholarship, or contribute to the foundation. The organization will pool donations of any amount with contributions from other donors to fund scholarships.

The McLeod County East Dollars for Scholars chapter was organized in 1984, to promote academic activities and provide scholarships to deserving students for post-high school education.

The organization has distributed more than $175,000 in scholarships to students, to date.

McLeod County East Dollars for Scholars and the Lester Prairie Education Foundation entered into a merger agreement in spring 2007.

Annual fundraising projects include a scholarship dinner in February, and the Bulldog Bash in April.

Bargain hunters head to Lester Prairie one day each September, looking for the best buy for their money at Lester Prairie’s Garage Sale Day.

Garage Sale Day began in 1980. The sale day is the third Saturday in September from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The purpose behind a one-day sale is to allow those who work during the week to attend garage sales.

Fliers of all the registered sales are available at local businesses.

There is no cost to those having a garage sale, as advertising costs are paid for by flyer advertisers.

Organizers of Garage Sale Day strongly discourage early sales. Also, garage sales must have the items that are being advertised.

To help with the sale or to get your sale on the flyer, contact Troy Feltmann at (320) 395-4162.

Lester Prairie Lions Club

The Lester Prairie Lions Club has been active in the community since 1986 and is open to anyone, male or female, interested in improving the quality of life in Lester Prairie.

There are currently 25 members in the club, which meets monthly on the second Thursday of the month at One-Eyed Willy’s or city hall as a business dinner meeting at 6:30 p.m.

The Lions conduct pancake breakfast fundraisers each year, youth baseball, and fundraising through the sale of pull tabs.

Money raised by the club is used within the community of Lester Prairie for various projects in the city, schools, and parks.

To date, more than $100,000 has been donated by the Lions to various community organizations.

Yearly dues are $50 per member. For more information, contact any Lions member or Dale Klaustermeier, PO Box 309, Lester Prairie (320) 395-2719.

Lester Prairie Parents for Education (formerly LP Advisory Committee)

Lester Prairie Parents for Education is a partnership of parents, teachers, community members, and administrators, whose purpose is to enhance and enrich the education of our students.

The group meets the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the media center at Lester Prairie School. All community members, school staff, and parents of Lester Prairie students in grades pre-school through 12 are welcome to attend meetings and/or participate in volunteer opportunities.

Each year we coordinate fundraisers, bookfairs, and teacher and staff appreciation. Money raised through our events are used to purchase items needed for the school, such as books, art and science supplies, and other educational tools.

To learn more about Parents for Education, contact co-chairs Amy Meyer at (320) 395-8330, or April Lee at (320) 395-9883.

Lester Prairie Senior Citizens

The Lester Prairie Senior Citizens club, organized in 1969, offers senior citizens of the community and neighboring area an opportunity for fellowship. Everyone is welcome at meetings, which are scheduled throughout the year and take place at city hall. Lunch is served by members of the group, and 500 and Sheephead are played. A catered meal is provided at Thanksgiving, and a potluck lunch at Christmas.

The group participates in the McLeod County Fair.

The club currently has about 20 members. There is a fee of 50 cents collected at each meeting. Membership is open to anyone over the age of 55.

Lester Prairie Youth Baseball and Softball is sponsored by the Lester Prairie Lions, and staffed by volunteer coaches.

The group, part of the Waconia Community Education League, Crow River Youth Baseball League, and Crow River Fast Pitch League, consists of preschool-ball, T-ball, softball, and baseball teams for children ages 4-18.

Registration is in February and March, with games beginning mid-May and lasting through the beginning of August. Fees range from $20 to $50.

Little Learners Preschool, formed in 1993, is part of School District 424, Lester Prairie Public Schools.

The purpose of the organization is to work with parents of young children to provide a wide variety of positive experiences that address the intellectual, physical, and social and emotional growth and development of their children.

Enrollment in the preschool is limited to 32 students. A spring open house and registration is conducted for new students.

Established in 1988, the After Prom Party Committee was formed to provide a safe and fun-filled evening after prom for Lester Prairie High School students.

The evening is filled with entertainment, food, games, and prizes and is always well-attended. There are approximately 20 members on the committee, which meets regularly to plan and conduct fundraisers throughout the year to raise the funds necessary for the gala evening.

Membership is open to anyone interested in being a part of this worthwhile and important undertaking.

For more information, contact Kim Weinzierl at (320) 485-7420.

Prairie Arts Council (PAC)

The Prairie Arts Council was organized in fall 1996, to increase arts opportunities available to students in the Lester Prairie schools, as well as to increase support and appreciation for arts programs in the community of Lester Prairie.

The group sponsors a variety of activities each year, including artist residencies, art programs in the schools, field trips to performances and museums, the Fall Harvest Festival co-sponsored with Holasek Flower Power Garden Center, and an art activity at the community holiday event.

Work continues on the Prairie Arts Center, located above Angvall Hardware and Gift Shop, where PAC hosts a book club, fiber club, and art clubs and classes. PAC welcomes new community members.

For more information, find PAC on Facebook, or e-mail lester.prairie.arts@gmail.com.

Ray Kirkpatrick American Legion Post 463

Chartered May 20, 1920, with 15 veterans signing, Lester Prairie’s Ray Kirkpatrick Post 463 sponsors a youth baseball team, Boys State representative, and school patrol training in the elementary school. The Post also provides brochures to the school dealing with safety and family issues, and donates to the After Prom party at the high school.

There are currently about 65 members in the Post, which is open to any member of the service, currently active or honorably discharged.

Membership dues are $30 per year. The Post meets monthly from September to May the first Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at city hall. New members are always welcome.

The Lester Prairie Sportsmen’s Club Inc. is located one mile southwest of Lester Prairie on McLeod Co. Rd. 1, and open from mid-April until mid-October, weather permitting. It was established in 1967.

Clubhouse rentals. The clubhouse is an ideal location for your family or company event on a rental basis; whether it is a family reunion, picnic, anniversary, birthday, graduation, or a customer appreciation event.

There is adequate parking space, outdoor area for games, sand volleyball court, many outdoor picnic tables on concrete slabs with electrical outlets, and many shade trees. The clubhouse is equipped with many chairs and tables, a separate beverage counter, and separate food counter with coolers. Air conditioning is also available, and it is carpeted and has many windows to the north.

Trapshooting is the principal source of income. The sport starts in mid-April and continues to the end of August, and takes place Wednesday nights from 6 to 9:30 p.m. A major improvement was made with the trap machines being replaced with new Pat-Traps. Scores improved greatly for all shooters.

League shooting. Eighteen weeks of competition is offered with each team consisting of five shooters (may have up to three subs) shooting in five separate classes. Each of the five shooters is required to shoot at 25 targets per week. Total scores of the five shooters are used. Better teams move back to the 27-yard line, with the lower scores moving closer to the 16-yard line.

After the first nine weeks, the best teams move up to the next higher class. At the end of the season, the winners of the first half shoot against the winners of the second half. There is room for additional teams.

Individual 16-yard Lewis Class. Individual shooters are required to shoot 300 targets, with not more than 50 on a given night. Their scores are posted weekly.

After shooting the 300 targets, (can be done in six weeks, shooting 50 a night) the high scores are put at the top with the lower ones below. A trophy is awarded to every fifth shooter. The winners are determined at the end of the season.

Practice shooting. A shooter may take part in practice shooting as much as he or she wants. There is a minimum of 25 targets from any yardage, doubles with 13 pair or 25 pair.

High school trapshooting league. The club is also home to high school trapshooting teams, with students from Lester Prairie, Holy Trinity in Winsted, Watertown-Mayer, Southwest Christian in Chaska, and Centeral in Norwood Young America participating.

Gun and snowmobile training. Watch the Herald Journal newspaper for dates of instruction.